Use of an Additional Updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Adults Aged ≥65 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2024

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024 Apr 25;73(16):377-381. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7316a4.

Abstract

COVID-19 remains an important public health threat, despite overall decreases in COVID-19-related severe disease since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates remain higher among adults aged ≥65 years relative to rates in younger adults, adolescents, and children; during October 2023-January 2024, 67% of all COVID-19-associated hospitalizations were among persons aged ≥65 years. On September 12, 2023, CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended updated (2023-2024 Formula) COVID-19 vaccination with a monovalent XBB.1.5-derived vaccine for all persons aged ≥6 months to protect against severe COVID-19-associated illness and death. Because SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate throughout the year, and because of the increased risk for COVID-19-related severe illness in persons aged ≥65 years, the protection afforded by updated vaccines against JN.1 and other currently circulating variants, and the expected waning of vaccine-conferred protection against disease, on February 28, 2024, ACIP recommended all persons aged ≥65 years receive 1 additional dose of the updated (2023-2024 Formula) COVID-19 vaccine. Implementation of these recommendations is expected to enhance immunity that might have waned and decrease the risk for severe COVID-19-associated outcomes, including death, among persons aged ≥65 years.

MeSH terms

  • Advisory Committees*
  • Aged
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.*
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines